Steer Davies Gleave has hired Russell Yell, who joins the firm as an Associate Director in its UK Planning Team. Yell will support the firm’s clients get to grips with the transport and smart city technologies that may come to disrupt their current business models and services.

Prior to joining Steer Davies Gleave (SDG), Russell Yell was a Director at Movement Strategies for almost three years. Previously he worked at AECOM Australia as a Principal Consultant within the firm’s Infrastructure Advisory segment. Earlier roles include a brief stint as Principal of Transport at Scott Carver in 2010; Senior Transport Engineer at Cardno from 2009 until 2010; Senior Planner at Arup from 2006 until 2009; Planner at Colin Buchanan from 2005 until 2006; and Traffic Engineer for Transport for London, where he started his career in 2002.

Yell attended the Cranfield School of Management at Cranfield University and the University of Leeds for his higher education.

Throughout his career, Yell has accumulated a wealth of expertise in the area of transport planning and urban mobility issues. He is, for instance, well versed in leading the delivery of location insights at sports and entertainment events, in which real-time data supports solutions for, among others, visitor experience and safety. These insights, In collaboration with data collected by UCL and other universities, are supporting the development of a Smart Sustainable District in Europe.

SDG has appointed Yell as Associate Director in the firm’s UK Planning Team. In the role, Yell is tasked with the development of the firm’s Intelligent Mobility and Big Data insights offerings. Yell will work with clients to improve their understanding of the benefits of new (disruptive) technology across their business and the changing ecosystem in which many find themselves, including those affecting transport and cities.

Sharon Daly, Head of Planning at Steer Davies Gleave, says, “Having Russell join our team is really exciting. We aim to bring to our clients quality, insight and innovation in transport and development advice and Russell’s experience and energy will no doubt enhance our existing capabilities.”